Piper Aircraft has introduced its newest top-of-the-line M-Class single-engine Meridian M500 turbine business aircraft with the latest in Garmin avionics, enhanced safety features and a number of other significant product improvements.

"The 2015 Piper M500 will come equipped with the very newest Garmin avionics package for increased safety," said Piper President and CEO Simon Caldecott. "As part of our on-going product improvement initiatives, we saw an opportunity to give our customers the latest improvements in proven avionics technology with electronic stability protection, under speed protection and automatic level mode among other improvements."

The Piper M500 seats six with club seating. It is powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-42A 500shp engine, sports a 260 KTAS / 482 km/h max cruise speed and has a range of 1,000 nm / 1,852 km. Equipped with an improved Garmin G1000 avionics suite, the 2015 M500 is listed at a competitive price of $2.26 million.

Upgraded Avionics

The M500's new Garmin G1000 avionics suite will feature high resolution dual 10-inch PFDs, and a high resolution 12-inch MFD as well as the latest Garmin Software upgrade along with a GFC700 autopilot with enhanced Autopilot Flight Control System (AFCS) including a number of flight safety features:

• Electronic Stability Protection (ESP)

• Under Speed Protection (USP)

◦ Coupled Go-Around

• Expanded Engagement Envelope

• Level Mode

◦ Auto Pilot Auto-Engage

• Master caution, master warning, gear position, gear warning incorporated in the G1000

Electronic Stability Protection

Electronic Stability Protection (ESP) helps prevent the onset of stall/spins, steep spirals, and loss-of-control conditions. This passive feature discourages aircraft operation outside the desired flight envelope. ESP functions independently of the auto pilot system and only takes effect when the pilot is hand-flying the aircraft with the auto pilot disengaged. It works as a soft "barrier" to keep the Piper M500 inside the performance envelope by automatically engaging servos to slightly correct control surface positions when the aircraft exceeds one or more flight parameter - essentially "nudging" it back inside safe parameters.

Underspeed Protection

Underspeed Protection (USP) is a flight director function that reacts to under speed conditions in a way that allows the autopilot to remain engaged but prevents the airplane from stalling while the PFD annunciates when active.

With stall protections developed as part of the USP system, coupled go-arounds are possible without disengaging the autopilot. With this feature, the autopilot will remain engaged and fly the missed approach. If power is not added, the USP system will maintain a speed just above stall warning, adjusting airplane pitch attitude as required. 

Automatic Level Mode (Blue Button)

The M500 also features as standard equipment an autopilot Level Mode function that, when triggered, will return the aircraft to a wings level attitude with zero vertical speed. Upon activation, Level Mode will automatically engage the flight director and autopilot functions to return the aircraft to straight and level flight. Activating Level Mode cancels all armed and active modes, leaving all other autopilot modes available while the Level Mode is activated, simply by pressing the associated mode control button.

Additional Improvements

Other major improvements for the Meridian M500 includes a new digital pressurization which fully integrates with G1000, the Aspen EFD-1000 standby instrument, electroluminescent placards in cockpit, GTX 33 Extended Squitter Transponder, a centrally located single audio panel, dual USB charging ports, and an optional GTS 825 Traffic Advisory System, which coupled with the GTX 33ES gives the aircraft ADS-B In and Out functionality. M500 aircraft are also offered with the optional Garmin GSR-56 Global Satellite Datalink Iridium Satellite Transceiver. 

About Piper M-Class Aircraft

M-Class aircraft offer Piper performance and safety built upon a proven airframe that has been an industry standard for years. Three refined derivatives comprise the full line: the Meridian M500, the Mirage and the Matrix. Each product fits its own niche and price point, and each aircraft provides a seamless step-up to the next level. Created to maximize the business and the private travel experience, the M-Class line balances performance, efficiency and simplicity.